Goldencoins Taproom

Heady IPAs from a leading craft brewer

The draft list at Goldencoins Taproom in Bangkok, Thailand, is devoted to the DIY recipes of Pipatnapon “Piek” Pumpo, an influential figure in Bangkok’s fledgling craft beer scene and co-founder of the dearly departed Chinatown bar Let the Boy Die. (It closed in early 2017 after several rounds of noise complaints from neighbors.)

Thailand has notoriously strict regulations when it comes to beer: Brewers must produce at least 100,000 liters a year to be considered legit; everything else, including homebrewing, is illegal. These rules have forced Goldencoins to go the contract-brewing route in nearby Saigon, but that doesn’t mean the quality control suffers. Pumpo visits his business partner regularly to experiment with test batches and ensure that every last tasting note is kept in check.

Owing to his love of Russian River Brewing Company’s highly sought after Pliny the Elder IPA and the more complex offerings of California’s Modern Times Beer, Goldencoins’ strength is in its hopped-up IPAs and palate-pushing experiments like cherry-mint red ale. Want to try a little of everything? Stop by during happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. daily, when fresh pours are offered for as low as 100 baht a glass (just under $3 USD).